MIIS Alumnus Chris Cheng Wins History Channel’s Top Shot

Chris Cheng (MAIPS ’06) after the Top Shot finale.

June 12, 2012

With no formal training and nothing to prove to anyone but himself, Chris Cheng (MAIPS ’06) flew under the radar when he arrived in Agua Dulce, California as one of the competitors on the fourth season of the History Channel’s reality show Top Shot. By the time he was crowned the winner of the competition and awarded $100,000 and a contract with Bass Pro as a professional marksman six weeks later, his consistent performance and grace under pressure had impressed both fans and fellow competitors.

Before winning Top Shot, Chris was a program manager at Google, where he had worked since graduating from MIIS with a specialization in Conflict Resolution in December 2006. “I was lucky enough to be recommended for the job by fellow MIIS graduate Hunter Sykes (MAIEP ’05),” Chris shares, adding that his international understanding and training in writing short policy memos about complicated issues worked to his advantage. This spring he changed course to pursue his new contract and other opportunities.

To read more about Chris’ journey from a degree in conflict resolution to an exciting job in Silicon Valley and on to win a reality television show, check out the newest edition of the Communiqué, now online.